Can holder with perforating discharge and vent tubes



FORATING E. N CAN HOLDER DISCHARGE Filed April 3, 1951 BR T 1 mm NmD 6 mm G J 311mm! I 5 fps/1E /V. GENOVESEZ Patented Apr. 3, 195 1 CAN HOLDER WITH PERFORATING DISCHARGE AND VENT TUBES Edgar N. Genovese, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 25, 1946, Serial No. 679,230

3 Claims.

This invention relates to culinary equipment and more particularly to a holder and dispenser for metallic cans used for holding fluids.

Canned liquids are usually hard to dispense by reason of the awkward form of their containers and the inconvenient orifices punched in their tops for pouring same out. The use of the can directly after openin as a pouring article is repulsive to the eye and objectional in the manher it functions. The contents usually make the can unsightly and unsanitary as the drippings after pouring course down the exterior walls of the can to expose the liquids and their residues to the air, as well as soil the hands of the users.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved holding unit for canned fluids that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved holding unit for canned fluids that will perforate the top of the can container for opening it and providing an atmospheric balance, as well as enclose it artistically.

A further object of theherein described invention is to provide a new and improved holding unit for canned fluids that will keep the contents of a can container sanitary and reduce waste to a minimum.

A further object of thi invention is to provide a new and improved holding unit for canned fluids that will enable the can used to be handled conveniently and effectively.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully outlined.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the appended drawings and the following description, which together illustrate a particular form of the invention by way of example, while the claims indicate the general scope of the invention. 7

Figure 1 is a plan view with the hood removed of a serving device for cans, embodying thi invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

. In the particular construction indicated, a holding unit is employed to encase a conventional can of milk. The holding unit is in two main parts, a hollow base body Ill surmounted by a domed cap II. The base body I0 is interiorly cylindrical at 13 to contain and encompass a conventional can l2 of milk, set in same perpendicularly. The upper rim ll of the cylinder I3 is of restricted diameter and recessed for bayonet grooves l4, which are on a level below that of top surface is of the can, when properly positioned. The cylinder l3 has a base Hi to support the can, and all together cover the can, leaving only the top surface l6 exposed. The exterior of the body I0 is of ribbed and tapered form as shown in Figure 2. It also has a ledge 20 to receive the cap H.

The cap I I, is circular and exteriorly domed and internally hollowed out to fit closely on the rim I1, with its lower circular portion l8. This internal ring l8 has bayonet protrusions l9 suited to fit and lock in the grooves I 4. An enlarged recess 2|. is provided to enable the cap edge to rest on the ledge 20, when put in place.

The cap is hollowed internally to fit over the cylindrical upper portion of the can, but to do so effectively the sharpened piercing tubes 22 and 23 respectively extending through a shelf 24 across the interior of the cap, have to be forced into the top of can. This enables the can to pour out its contents through tube 22, forming a spout of arcuate contour. while the tube 23 serves as an air vent to balance the atmosphere and prevent retention of the liquid in the can. The tubes 22 and 23 are removably assembled to the shelf 24- by insertion through holes 25 and 26 respectively and have flanges 21 and 28 attached to them to enable them to withstand the pressure of forcing them to cut through the top of the can. The shelf 24 is formed on its top into a trench 35 slanting downward and back from the pouring spout 22 to the flush vent opening and tube 23. The wall of the filleted trench is formed with a longitudinal groove 29 into which the engaging rims 30 on a hood 3! can enter and look. This hood 3| is approximately semicircular in transverse cross-section, but longitudinally is of a tapering arcuate contour exteriorly and blends into the rearward contour of the cap.

' The rear contour of the cap and hood blends into that of a curved handle 32, which pendantly extends down the exterior of the cap and body and ends with an upwardly and inwardly curved hook 33. The handle is integral or securely fastened to the cap and serves as a tool for turning it when locking on the bayonet connections. After being so locked the handle may be used for pouring out the contents of the can, Without danger of the body becoming detached. Rubber washers 3 1 placed over the tubes 22 and 23 facilitate the attachment and also prevent leakage between the can top and cap. The pouring is performed by tilting the unit at an angle towards the front, afterwards bringing it back to a vertical position. The drippings from the spout 22, drop into the trench pass down the slanting bottom to the vent opening and tube 23 back into the can. 22 is aligned in back of the opening 39 formed in the front of the hood, so that it will drip inside the hood and not along the exterior surface of the cap and hood. This keeps the exterior of the unit clean and at the same time avoids Wasting the liquid dripping from the spout.

While a milk can has been used as an illustration, it is appreciated that other fluids and liquids could be likewise dispensed, as for instance, syrup, 'oil, and various juices, in a similarly efiective manner. The materials out of which the unit could be appropriately made are metal, plastic, and glass, although others could be included if special requirements exist for their use. It is of course understood that the term canning is not intended to limit the invention to a container of metal or in can shape.

The removal of the empty can, is accomplished by a reversal of the cap to unloosen the bayonet connections. The cap is then raised, which enables it to detach its piercin tubes 22 and 23, leaving the milk can container free to be lifted out and replaced by another.

The entire operation of placing the can and dispensing its contents is very simple, while at the same time the inclosing unit can be designed to meet a high degree of aesthetic quality. All the partsare accessible for inspection, repair and cleaning, while the operation and use of the device does not interfere with its expeditious employment for the purposes intended. The curved form of the bottom of the handle renders the latter less liable to slip out of the hand of the user.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims;

Having thus described the invention; what is claimed is:

1. A dispensing unit for holding and dispensmg canned liquids comprising, a body internally fitted and recessed to take a can of liquid, a cap having an opening in its wall and mountable on said body and adapted to enclose the upper portion of said can, tubular means operated by said cap to perforate the can and allow the emission of its contents, and means connected with the cap for permitting the liquid to be poured therethrough and to catch and return drippings thereof back into the can, without allowing any of said liquid being poured to run down the exterior of the cap or body, said cap forming a cover over both of said means and adapted to be locked to said body while the can is perforated and placed therein.

2. A dispensing unit of the class described comprising, a body cylindrically recessed internally to receive and closely encompass a container of liquid, but allowing a relatively small portion to It should be noted that the spout project above the body, a domed cap adapted to fit on the upper portion of the body and lock thereon and fit over said projecting portion and have a chamber formed above it in the cap, said cap having a trench slanting in a predetermined direction in its upper structure, an arcuate spout disposed adjacent to the trench and attached to the cap, a hood portion on said cap over the trench and spout, punching means connected with said ca and spout so as to engage and pierce a predetermined portion of the top inclosure of said can for venting and providing a pouring orifice therefor, said cap being arranged to allow the pouring of the liquid from said punching means through said spout but catch the drippings therefrom when vertically positioning after pouring, resilient means on said punching means where same comes adjacent said pierced portion, and a handle attached to the cap for manipulating same, and also the body when locked thereon, said locking of the cap and body being arranged for by a bayonet and slot arrangement operable by the rotation of the cap and body on each other, and said handle being extended down the side of the body to terminate adjacent the bot tom thereof and curve inwardly and upwardly to form a secure holding arrangement, said spout being arranged within said chamber so as not to project beyond the wall thereof.

3. A dispensing and covering unit of the class described comprising in combination, a hollow body having a cylindrical interior and arranged to enclose a conventional can with a portion of the can projecting above the body, a cap fitting on the upper portion of the body and lockable thereon and fitting over the upper portion of the can but providing a chamber above it, a slanted shelf arranged transversely across the lower portion of the cap to come close to the top of said can, tubular means spaced from each other to pierce the top in a plurality of places to provide for the release of air and liquid from said can, a spout of arcuate form coupled to one of said means for pouring the liquid therethrough the said spout being terminated in rear of the wall of said cap and aligned with said opening whereby the liquid will pass therethrough without contact with said cap, a trench on said shelf below the spout so as to catch drippings therefrom and guide it across said slanted shelf through said means to the can, a hood attached to the top of the cap aligned and disposed over the opening but not obstructing same and a curved handle on the cap projecting therefrom over the body and. having its end portion free and accessible for manipulation, and a hood included on the cap to provide access to the shelf and spout and trench thereof without removing the cap from said body.

EDGAR N. GENOVESE.

REFERENCES CITEE The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,710,239 Paulson Apr. 23, 1929 1,961,585 Hauskins June 5, 1934 2,053,370 Karin Sept. 8, 1936 2,135, 192 Creveling Nov. 15,1938 2,184,397 Nelson Dec. 26, 19.39 2,2753% .Clem -Mar. 10, 1942 

